Ballinasloe International October Fair & Festival 2024

The longest running Horse Fair in Europe 🐎

An extravaganza of all things equestrian, with entertainment, music and great family fun. 2024 sees the fair celebrating the significant 302nd anniversary milestone of the Ballinasloe International October Fair & Festival which is held annually in the town of Ballinasloe, County Galway. The equestrian days are Sunday and Monday (29th Sept, 30 Sept) and Saturday (5th October 2024). The festival dates are 3rd to 6th October 2024 where the Fairgreen is the place to be, with every breed of horse and pony on display from the beautiful Connemara Pony to trotting ponies and wonderful Irish draughts.

With an assortment of fun events, street stalls, fireworks, tug-o-war, street & vintage parade, arts & crafts, music and children’s events, there’s a sense of community about the show, but with around 85,000 visitors a year the word has spread.

An annual festival of all things equine 🐴

Ballinasloe is rooted in equestrian traditions, and horseback riding, pony rides, show jumping, and other events happen all year round. The Irish Traveling Community, who frequently assemble there, has a long-standing heritage of involvement with the Ballinasloe Fair. In terms of prominence to this community, Ballinasloe is on par with the Appleby Horse Fair in Appleby-in-Westmorland, England.

The 8-day carnival kicks up on the first Sunday in October with a march around the neighborhood. In addition to the named horse fair, the celebrations during the following week will feature a beauty pageant when the fair’s queen will be crowned, tug-of-war matches, dog shows, artistic and cultural events, singing contests, and fairground rides.

The Horse Fair, which takes place on a six-acre fair green on Society Street, features sale-and-purchase, racing, and show-jumping. The second weekend serves as the culmination, with “Country Fair Day” falling on Saturday. The majority of the local rural population often attended the fair on this day.

What to expect at Ballinasloe Horse Fair

History of the Horse Fair

Historically, clansmen from nearby tribes would gather in Ballinasloe. In fact, Ballinasloe’s name comes from the Irish phrase “Béal tha na Sluaghe,” which translates to “Ford-mouth of the Hostings.” Although there is little information regarding the fair’s beginnings, the town’s historical function as a meeting site supports the locals’ long-held belief that it is an old event.

The London Times stated in the late 18th century that the fair had sold “65,758 sheep and 6,565 bullocks.” Ballinasloe Horse Fair was described as “the grandest in the British empire” and “the largest of its kind in Europe” by the paper in the early 19th century.

Contact the festival

Ballinasloe Fair & Festival Office
Society Street,
Ballinasloe,
Co. Galway
+353899812626
[email protected]